Intelsat 24

Intelsat 24, previously Amos-1, is a commercial communication satellite which is operated by Intelsat. It was previously operated by Spacecom as Amos-1, and formed part of the AMOS series of satellites. It was the first Israeli communications satellite, and was initially positioned at 4° West longitude in geostationary orbit. It has since been moved to 47.3 degrees West.

Its development was based on experience from Ofeq reconnaissance satellites in association with DASA and Alcatel Espace. It was launched at May 16, 1996 from Kourou in French Guiana, aboard an Ariane 4 rocket flying in the 44L configuration. It was used for home TV services (DTH/DBS by "Yes" company in Israel and by HBO and others in Europe). Spacecom succeeded quickly to fill all transmission abilities of Amos-1 and accumulated additional requests. Therefore Spacecom decided to broaden its activity and initiated AMOS 2 creation, which is today in its full ownership. AMOS-1 carries nine K_u band transponders.

Weighing 970 kg at launch, Amos-1 incorporated a 400 Newton liquid apogee motor and fourteen reaction control thrusters, each delivering ten Newtons of thrust for raising the satellite's orbit from geostationary transfer orbit to its final geostationary orbit as well as for its attitude control. It carried 450 kg of propellant (monomethyl hydrazine and MON-3).

Amos-1 measures 11.5 m in length in its final in-orbit configuration. It is 3-axis body stabilised using Sun and Earth sensors, momentum and reaction wheels. Its solar array generates 1380 W power, backed up by 24 A·h Ni-Cd batteries. After its launch was raised to its final geostationary orbit by firing the apogee boost motor in phases. After it reached the geostationary orbit, its antennae and solar panels were deployed and the satellite was placed in its allocated slot at 4° West longitude. Amos 1 and Amos 2 were placed in proximity to create common location, which enables to satellite users to increase user abilities without additional antennas.^{[clarification needed]}

In 2009, Amos-1 was sold to Intelsat, and became Intelsat 24.^[1]

See also

• List of Intelsat satellites
• List of satellites in geosynchronous orbit

References

External links

• http://www.amos-spacecom.com/amos1/page.asp?cat=43&type=4&lang=1